Modern farmhouse homes are increasingly popular across Golden Plains, particularly in suburbs like Inverleigh, Teesdale, and Bannockburn. These small towns offer the best of both worlds: country charm at your doorstep with the convenience of central Geelong just a 30-minute drive away.
Client Spotlight: Olivia and Richie’s Journey to a Modern Farmhouse
Olivia and Richie, recent Hamlan clients, seized the chance to start a new lifestyle for their young family. They were drawn to the idea of more space, a modern barn-style home, and fresh country air.
In 2016, Olivia and Richie bought their first home, a small cottage in Geelong West. When Olivia became pregnant with their first child in 2020, they began to rethink their living situation. Olivia, who grew up in the country, and Richie, who loves open spaces, wanted a home with more room than their Geelong West block. They impulsively purchased a block in Inverleigh and began researching barn-style houses for their new acreage.
During her online search, Olivia discovered a blog featuring a black barn-style acreage home on the Hamlan website. She submitted an enquiry and soon connected with new home consultant Narelle Sommerville. Narelle’s attentive approach and expertise quickly instilled trust in Olivia and Richie to build their new home with Hamlan.
The Building Process
One of the biggest challenges for Olivia was visualising how their new home would look. Visiting Hamlan’s display homes provided a clearer understanding of the build quality, fittings, and fixtures, giving Olivia and Richie the confidence they needed to move forward with the build.
Initially inspired to build a black barn-style home, Olivia faced a challenge when she learned that their estate required the façade to be a combination of timber and brickwork. The estate design guidelines specified that only 35% of the facade could be timber or cladding, preventing them from fully cladding the house in timber as they had dreamed.
With guidance from Narelle and interior designer Mia Steinfort, they found a solution that met the guidelines and created a striking facade. They opted to change to a bagged brickwork and paint it in a contrasting colour. Olivia is thrilled with the result, saying that the facade now has more texture and elevation, enhancing the overall look of their home.
Design Details and Finishing Touches
Olivia drew inspiration from the river red gums in the estate, which influenced their home’s colour selections. She thoroughly researched her options before her appointment with Mia, bringing samples of tiles, laminate, and carpet to ensure cohesive choices.
Mia’s support was invaluable to Olivia, providing confident advice and insightful suggestions. For a unique touch, Mia recommended luxe brass fittings for the ensuite, a choice that Olivia loves.
Living in their new Hamlan-built home has been a dream come true for Olivia and Richie. The home is both beautiful and functional, providing the space they wanted for their young family. Olivia particularly loves the wool carpets, which add a touch of luxury to everyday life. The home’s ample storage, including a dedicated toy cupboard, helps keep everything organised.
Final Thoughts
Olivia highly recommends Hamlan to anyone embarking on a building journey, praising the expert advice and support throughout the process. She emphasises that building with Hamlan ensures you get the home you want, without any regrets.
“There’s nothing in the design of this home or in its fittings that I would do differently if I was to build again,” Olivia says. “We absolutely love our home.”
